The FBI is concerned that self-driving cars could be used as "lethal weapons"

There's been plenty of discussion as to the benefits that self-driving vehicles will bestow upon society in the not-too-distant future. The FBI, however, believes driverless cars of the future pose a far greater risk than most of us have likely even considered up to this point.

An internal report on the matter obtained by The Guardian details a laundry list of nefarious situations in which driverless cars could be used as "lethal weapons."

For example, because a driver would no longer have to maintain control over their car, a fleeing suspect would be free to shoot at police giving chase. The bureau also foresee scenarios in which self-driving cars could be packed with explosives and driven to a specific destination for detonation.

It's not all doom and gloom as the FBI seems to be fully aware of the upside to driverless cars. The report notes that distraction or poor judgment leading to accidents would be substantially reduced. Furthermore, law enforcement activities such as tailing a suspect could become a bit easier as self-driving cars wouldn't need to be as close to the suspect thus reducing the risk of detection.

The report concludes that self-driving cars could be approved by Congress within the next five to seven years. This isn't too far off estimates that we heard from Google a few years back.

Do you think the FBI's concerns are valid? Let us know in the comments section below.